October 25, 1991

The coincidental events of election season and Halloween have always stimulated our imaginations. This strange October counterpoint of ghosts, goblins, incumbents, and political upstarts usually charges the crisp fall air with excitement, inducing in many an otherwise uncharacteristic willingness to believe the unbelievable: that certain groups of people are possessed of unassailable wisdom (or idiocy) by virtue of political affiliation, that pure goodness (or evil) resides in out political institutions, and that spirits inhabit the night.

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Housatonic Cablevision filmed the "Pizza & Politics" program at the Fireside Inn on October 22, and will air this program on Wednesday, October 30 at 8 pm. The program features opening and closing statements by First Selectman Zita McMahon and her challenger Mae Schmidle.

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The sixth annual holiday house festival and walking tour of Newtown will be from 1-5 pm on Sunday, December 15. The event includes tours of historic Main Street houses decorated for the holidays by local merchants. This year the event will include a crafts fair in addition to the antiques show. Carolers will be strolling the streets.

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Winterset Ski Club is collecting good, used skis, boots, poles, and other equipment on consignment for its annual ski sale Saturday, November 9, at the Edmond Town Hall gym. Event chairperson Joan Rothfuss said equipment can be brought to the rear of the General Store on Saturday, October 26, from 9 am to noon.

October 14, 1966

Newtown Historical Society is interested in receiving information or pictures of the old Middle Gate School, located on Route 25. This material is being collected by Harrie Wood or at The Bee offices.

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The annual scholarship ball at the Edmond Town Hall added about $1,100 to the treasury of the Newtown Scholarship Association. A gay, almost holiday spirit prevailed as many supporters danced to the music of Joey Zelle's orchestra.

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Last Sunday, St John's Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook, in honor of the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, observed for the first time in Newtown, the ancient practice of blessing the pets. The Feast of St Francis observance in the American branch of the Episcopal Church was recently restored.

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This Halloween millions of American children would rather share than scare - they will trick or treat for UNICEF and save other children's lives.

October 10, 1941

A well-attended Parent Teacher Association meeting was held at Hawley School, devoted to the discussion of Music in Our Schools. Music Supervisor Antoinette Daniels described her work among the pupils with a rhythm band for the first grades, and progressing through grade seven, where unfortunately music in the Newtown schools stops. She stressed the need for more music and stated that the children are much interested in learning to play instruments.

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In spite of Sunday's record heat, one of the largest crowds in history greeted the opening of the 72nd annual Danbury Fair, with more than 30,000 people passing the gates. The midget auto races were the main attraction on the grandstand. Monday's crowd was also enthusiastic, reporting this year's fair to be one of the best ever.

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Mrs Julia Roberts of Milford was guest over the weekend to Mrs Ezra Douglas of Botsford Hill, Sandy Hook.

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Just the other day firemen from a nearby town called attention to a dangerous situation which frequently exists near the rear of Edmond Town Hall. When automobiles are thickly parked there, some two or three thoughtless drivers will leave their cars so placed that the firehouse entrance is completely blocked. The Bee hopes that proper steps will at once be taken.

October 13, 1916

State police get after reckless auto drivers. Quite a number of arrests of parties running their cars at a speed beyond that allowed by law were made at Danbury Fair last week by the state police. We trust that it may check some of the very reckless driving through the main streets of this village.

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M.J. Botsford's residence at Botsford was broken into shortly after noon on Saturday. They secured about $5 in money and some jewelry.

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W.H. Shepherd, the expert mason, has erected a new chimney on the store of Curtis & Son in Berkshire, and has been repairing the chimneys on several of the houses owned by Henry G. and W.R. Curtis.

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Mr and Mrs A.J. Smith and R.D. Smith and family will motor to Schenectady N.Y. Friday to attend the wedding of Mrs [sic] Myrtle Way and Benjamin Day Smith of Newtown to occur on October 14. Mrs Way is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Joseph Way of Schenectady.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with readers of The Newtown Bee. Images can be e-mailed to , or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.kendra@thebee.com